X-raying the policy options before Atiku, Tinubu and Peter Obi, By Babatunde Akin-Moses
What do you think would be the policy focus of the leading Presidential candidates? Based on their strengths, time in office, publicly available documents and utterances, here are my thoughts:
- Atiku – Atiku’s disposition suggests that he would primarily focus on a private sector driven economy. Such an administration would most likely bring about more privatization and liberalization. If we are to take what he and Obasanjo did from 1999 to 2007 (when Nigeria achieved its highest growth since 1999), there’s no reason to expect any different. Plus the fact that Atiku runs a few successful businesses also lends credence to this. In my opinion, sectors that would gain the most from this would be power, downstream petroleum refining and perhaps education. Atiku also sees himself as a unifier coming to “bind the broken union”. Not an easy task but will be welcome development if achieved.
- Peter Obi (PO) – PO is mostly known for being tough on cost management: a reputation he has maintained as both successful businessman, and public servant. Many people (including himself) have testified to his frugality and simplicity. Based on this, PO seems likely to take corruption the most serious (even though corruption doesn’t seem like a main talking point for 2023 compared to 2015 and 2019). PO has also expressed deep interest in education (primary & secondary levels), as well as taking Nigeria from “consumption to production”. The process of how he plans to do this has not been fully atikulated (pun intended😁), but seems to lean towards supporting small businesses to grow.
- Tinubu – If history is anything to go by, we can expect Tinubu to come up with creative ways to grow Nigeria’s revenue. This may or may not include the creation of new agencies – I reckon this will be more difficult at the federal level compared to the state. I’d also expect a very sound cabinet. Again, I’m not sure how much flexibility he will have to do this given the horse trading that may be required in exchange for the support of getting into office. Tinubu’s initial agenda suggests some social programs. Although I’m willing to bet that we will see more of public private partnerships. He also wants to decentralize the police. I’m not entirely sure how that would play out but Tinubu possesses the political sagacity to make it happen.
What are your policy expectations from these candidates depending on who takes office?
-Akin-Moses, Chief Executive Officer of Sycamore writes from Lagos
